Spine Problems

Herniated Disc

Discs are the oval shaped wedges located between each of the vertebrae, or bones, of the spine. Discs act as shock absorbers for the spine and each disc is made of a tough outer layer called the "annulus fibrosus" and a gel-like center called the "nucleus pulposus." If the protective outer layer of the disc is damaged by injury or weakened by age, a portion can give way to pressure, causing the gel-like nucleus to either bulge or leak out. This condition is referred to as a herniated disc. A herniated disc can press on nearby nerves and cause intense pain, numbness and tingling. These symptoms can occur in the lower back and/or leg if the herniation is located in the lower spine or in the neck and/or arm if the herniation is located in the upper spine. You may encounter changes in your reflexes, sensation and strength in your legs or arms caused by the herniated disc.

A herniated disc where there is no leakage of the gel-like center is referred to as a “contained” herniated disc. Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat patients with contained herniated discs who have failed conservative care and are not yet candidates for major surgery. Click here to learn more.

Vertebral Compression Fractures

The spine contains a series of bones called vertebrae. A vertebral compression fracture occurs when one or more of these bones weakens and fractures. The most common cause of vertebral compression fractures is osteoporosis, however these fractures can also occur as a result of a tumour or trauma. Osteoporosis can cause bones to become brittle, resulting in weakened vertebrae. Once this happens, the smallest activity can cause the vertebrae to collapse, resulting in debilitating pain which limits normal movement or simple activities. Vertebroplasty provides hope for the thousands of patients suffering from severe back pain caused by a vertebral compression fracture.

Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure during which a physician injects medical grade bone cement into the fractured vertebra to stabilize the fracture. In the past, people suffering from vertebral fractures were treated by medication, bed rest and external bracing. These conservative choices are still ideal for reducing discomfort, however if severe pain persists, patients can be referred to a specially trained physician to see if Vertebroplasty will work for them. Click here to learn more.

Soft Tissue Abnormalities

In some patients, vertebral compression fractures are caused by abnormalities or disease in the soft tissues inside the vertebrae. ArthroCare’s Coblation® technology enables quick and safe treatment of soft tissue by removing the affected tissue allowing the physician to replace this tissue with medical-grade bone cement. This procedure is performed by a physician and helps solidify the vertebrae by treating the painful vertebral compression fracture.

The procedure is typically performed in the hospital under local anesthesia. X-ray guidance is utilized to accurately place specially formulated acrylic bone cement into a partially compressed vertebral body.

The primary mechanism of action is ‘vertebroplasty’ in which bone cement is injected to immobilize the fracture.

However, in the presence of the affected soft tissue, traditional vertebroplasty can be more difficult and challenging and has resulted in slightly higher complication rates. The use of plasma-mediated therapy to debulk or partially remove soft tissue prior to the injection of bone cement offers an advancement in patient care. By precisely removing tissue, as opposed to balloon displacement as a means of creating a space has advantages, the potential for tumour cell embolization is reduced and the risk of tissue or fragment retropulsion into the spinal cord is minimized.